Kat's 9 Lives

What do you do when you have a few hours to kill before picking up family at John Wayne Airport? Since it was a perfect time for a late lunch/lunner, I decided to hide out at South Coast Mall. I was already going to go to an expensive dinner so I didn't want to spend too much or eat too full of a meal. Ever since Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe opened up in South Coast Mall I have been meaning to try them out. In my memory, their Clam Chowder was pretty good but I haven't been since... High School?? lol Things always seem better in memory... sigh...

It's not really a restaurant per se because you walk up to the counter to order and they give you a number so that they can bring your order to you thereafter. The prices are what you expect for being inside the mall. After I looked over the menu for a long time, I came to the conclusion that the Boudin SF Combo would be better than ordering everything separately. I chose Half Sandwich and a Bowl of Soup for $7.39. You can't choose hot sandwiches so I chose the Chicken Pesto with Tomatoes, Arugula, Pesto Mayo, and Vinaigrette in Sourdough Baguette. I don't know if you can see from the picture how tiny that sandwich was! haha Mind you, the bowl was not that big to begin with. The flavor and components of the sandwich came together very well. If you like a creamier Pesto then you would like this sandwich. It's actually very simple to make at home too. The Chicken Breasts were moist but the Baguette was a bit tough on the roof of my mouth.
After seeing the size of the combo, I wondered if this was really a good deal! haha Still, you got to try it to find out for yourself. The sandwich seems so tiny next to the bowl of soup that was shallow. lol It's obvious that the soup comes from a pot so the thickness can vary depending on what time of day you go. Mine was pretty thick and the flavors were decent. I use to think their Clam Chowder was really good and the flavors would just pop in my mouth. Alas, times have changed and I have changed. Their soup was good but nothing special. For the price, I think I would rather get Campbell's or Progresso's Soup for a lot cheaper lol.
All in all the food was not bad but it wasn't that worthwhile for the price. I will probably go back if I was hungry while shopping at South Coast Mall and didn't quite want fast food. lol Somehow I remember the sandwiches to be bigger in the past too. I am glad I went to satisfy the craving and now I know I am not missing much. Still, it's nice to have the Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe inside the mall now versus over at the Metro Point Centre lol. O=P

Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe
3333 Bristol St
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 689-2253